Be the Pack Leader: Use Cesar's Way to Transform Your Dog . . . and Your Life (Paperback)

by Cesar Millan (Author), Melissa Jo Peltier (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Millan, television's "Dog Whisperer," says that "Even the most unobservant person can see an owner's own issues totally mirrored in his or her dogs' problems," and in this follow-up to last year's bestselling Cesar's Way, he makes that connection more explicit and exploitable. Every dog wants a "clearly defined social framework, with a fair, consistent pack leader"; chances are good, then, that behind every unruly dog is an inconsistent human. To become the master your dog needs, one must cultivate "calm-assertive energy," a mind-set that puts both dogs and people at ease; besides thorough explanation, Millan offers a number of suggestions for developing this powerful form of non-verbal communication, including visualization techniques and inner dialogue ("focus your mind, and then tell yourself, 'This is my sofa.' "). Answering readers' requests for more straightforward advice, the book also offers a rundown of training tools-collars, leashes, etc.-and step-by-step instructions for properly handling common occurrences such as meeting a new dog, walking, feeding and visiting the vet. In numerous case studies, Millan's love for his work is obvious and infectious; whether you need a book for your dog or yourself, Millan's simple techniques, compassionate tone and intimate knowledge of dog psychology (and the human effect on it) makes this a worthy read.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Description
The New York Times bestseller!

Be the Pack Leader is Cesar Millan’s guide for taking your relationship with your dog to a higher level. By developing the skills necessary to become the calm-assertive owner your dog needs in order for him to live a balanced, fulfilled life, you’ll improve your dog’s behavior and your own life as well.

Be the Pack Leader is filled with practical tips and techniques, including:

• How to use calm-assertive energy in relating to your dog—and to others around you
• The truth about behavioral tools, from leashes and harnesses to clickers and e-collars
• How to satisfy the needs of your dog’s breed
• Success stories from Cesar’s clients, viewers, and fans—including the Grogan family of Marley & Me fame
• A quick reference guide of specific, step-by-step procedures to tackling some of the most common dog behavior problems


“[Cesar] arrives amid chaos and leaves behind peace.”
—Malcolm Gladwell, The New Yorker

“[Millan is] serene and mesmerizing. . . . He deserves a cape and a mask.”
—New York Times

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Three Rivers Press; Reprint edition (September 23, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0307381676
• ISBN-13: 978-0307381675
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (139 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,648 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

70 of 74 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Exercise, Discipline, Affection, February 1, 2008

By	Byron Fike "blf40" (Houston, TX USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Be the Pack Leader: Use Cesar's Way to Transform Your Dog . . . and Your Life (Hardcover)

All I really want to do is walk my dogs without them pulling on their leashes. Cesar makes it look so easy and, unfortunately, his book does not give me the magic, step-by-step formula that will instantly transform my dogs into perfect little walking machines. Alas!

On the positive side (and surely more realistic), the book gives wonderful insights into how to communicate so that your dog understands what you want. His threefold formula of exercise, discipline, and affection is simple and effective. My two little dogs (1 yr. old puppies actually) are happy to get a morning and evening walk, have boundaries at mealtimes and limits on where they can go in the house and what they can do, and , of course, get lots of affection.

If you want a step-by-step manual don't buy the book. Milan states up front that he is NOT a dog trainer. However, if you want an interesting read that helps you understand how your dog learns best, I'd recommend buying it.

118 of 129 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gotta love Cesar..., October 25, 2007

By	incubus1 - See all my reviews

This review is from: Be the Pack Leader: Use Cesar's Way to Transform Your Dog . . . and Your Life (Hardcover)

My reason for buying this book was pretty shallow. I love the Dog Whisperer and was about to get a dog of my own. Not wanting a dog that acted out of line, I figured reading this would be a nice start.

I was right.

If you've seen Cesar's show on the National Geographic Channel, you basically know, in a sense, what to expect. What I didn't expect was how much his philosophy of 'calm-assertive' energy played into being a better person as a whole. The whole 'calm-assertive' thing, as skeptical as I was, actually works too. I always thought Cesar knew what he was talking about but using his methods with my new addition actually works wonders.

Lets not forget the guidlines he so adamantly preaches...
1. Exercise
2. Discipline
3. Affection
"In that order!"

What really makes me laugh, and even like the book more, is that it's so clearly Cesar. Listen to him talk on his show sometime, then read Be The Pack Leader. It reads EXACTLY like he sounds.

Strewn about are 'Success Stories.' I really enjoyed them. More than anything it just solidifies how much Cesar's approach works in rehabilitating dogs. Without Cesar even coming to help out these ordinary people transformed their dogs--and more times than not--themselves.

If you're like me and wanted this book simply to learn how to deal with new dogs, Appendix-A Quick Reference Guide To Becoming A Better Pack Leader, at the back of the book is going to be your bible. It sure was mine the first couple of weeks.

Overall, even if you have a perfectly behaved dog--or don't even have one--Be The Pack Leader is a terrific, fast, read. Everything is very straight-forward and to the point and is chalk full of amazing tips on transforming your dog. Highly recommended.

120 of 134 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Better Book than Cesar's Way, November 10, 2007

By	citywulf (Atlanta, Georgia USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Be the Pack Leader: Use Cesar's Way to Transform Your Dog . . . and Your Life (Hardcover)

Cesar Millan truly loves dogs and wants to make their lives better by teaching us how to interact with them in instinctual ways that they will understand and by showing us how to fulfill their true needs. His repeated reminder that dogs should not be humanized cannot be emphasized enough, nor his mantra of calm-assertive behavior (which excludes both pampering and hostility in equal measure). Anyone who has worked with groups of dogs at liberty knows the truth behind the words - dogs respect the one who carries him/herself with confidence and remains consistent and fair.

I also greatly admire that Mr. Millan has sought out professionals in behavior and positive reinforcement to increase his understanding. A willingness to continue one's education and expand one's knowledge is exceptional and commendable.

I hope he continues his quest for knowledge, because it still comes up short in some areas. His unfailing belief in "alpha always first" has been largely undermined by recent study. In several packs, members other than the alpha lead the hunt - a smart leader knows when to defer to superior skills. Wolves on the way to a hunt may disperse and regroup along the way - sniffing, playing, marking, and enjoying - until they are closer to their prey. Helen Thayer observed wolves switching off the lead position, sharing the arduous job of breaking trail through snow. Leadership is about guidance and good decisions, not about absolutes; therefore I cringe when he insists that the only "correct" way to walk a dog is to keep her behind or beside you, using "high collaring" or compulsion to do so. The correct way is whatever the leader decides, and if I want to defer to my dog to lead me out of the woods, that's my decision (and a smart one, given our relative navigation skills). I really don't care whether she is ahead, beside, or behind me, so long as she is not pulling and is paying attention.

He also continues to insist that positive reinforcement is fine for training behaviors, but ineffective for rehabilitation. Sadly, it appears he has only encountered trainers who don't properly implement the proven, effective method of counter-conditioning (pairing the trigger of a dog's fear or aggression with positive experiences to alter the association). CC does not involve simply throwing food or comfort at a dog who is already aggressing or reacting. Dogs are worked sub-threshold (at the level that does not set them off) and gradually worked closer and closer to the trigger. It is very nuanced, and can take a long time, but it certainly works when done correctly and is a valid option for people wanting to avoid physical methods. However, it certainly can and should be paired with "calm-assertive energy" in the handler, as so many of these problems are fear-based, and the dog can benefit from the handler's energy/attitude.

Sadly, this book, like its predecessor (this book being much better-organized and thought out than the original), will probably be demonized without justification. Mr. Millan so clearly emphasizes that all things are to be done in a calm, controlled, fair and pain-free manner that he simply cannot be compared to the compulsion trainers of the dark, not-so-distant past. He likewise advises that each person answer to his/her own conscious, particularly in deciding what "tools" to use. He makes far too many good points to place this book into the "bad" category, and I hope trainers who do not agree with his methods will read the book before vilifying it.